Thread protector



March 6, 1951 G. P. ELMER THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 20, 1947 INVENTOR690/196 R E7/nef' Patented Mar. 6, 1951 THREAD PROTECTOR George P.Elmer, Monaca, 2a., assignor to Pittsburgh Screw and Bolt Corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 20,1947, Serial No. 729,730

' 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to thread protectors. It relates particularly tolined thread protectors, i. e., those having a body of relativelydurable material and a liner of relatively deformable material adaptedto lie next the threads being protected.

I provide a lined thread protector which is of simple construction, easyto fabricate and highly effective in its protective action. My protectorcomprises a body of relatively durable material having projection meansand a liner of relatively deformable material adapted to be interposedbetween the body and the pipe and through which the projection meansextend. The projection means are preferably in the form of tongue meansstruck up from the material of the protector body and the linerpreferably has an opening or openings through which the tongue meansextend. I preferably provide a plurality of projections on the bodywhich are spaced apart circumferentially.

When the projection means are tongue means struck up from the materialof the body of the thread protector the body has an opening or openingsformed by the striking up of the tongue means, and the liner'when thethread protector is applied to the pipe covers the opening or openingsin the body.

The protector may be applied over an externally threaded pipe end orwithin an internally threaded pipe end. In either case the liner isinterposed between the body of the protector and the threads beingprotected. Thus, when the threads being protected are external threadsthe protector fits over the pipe end like a cap and the liner isdisposed within it while when the threads being protected are internalthreads the protector fits within the pipe end like a plug and the lineris disposed about it.

The liner preferably has a slot or slots intersecting an edge thereofreceiving the projection or projections on the body when the body andliner are assembled. Each such slot preferably has a portionintersecting an edge ofthe liner and another portion intersecting thefirst mentioned 2 the material of the body an integral tongue or carwith the connection between the tongue or ear and the main portion ofthe body extending circumferentially. In such case the liner may have agenerally T-shaped slot the main portion of which intersects the edge ofthe liner and is of a width sufficient to receive the circumferentialdimension of the projection and the cross portion of whichintersects themain portion at its inner end and is of a width sufficient to receivethe axial dimension of the projection.

' The protector is applied to a pipe end with the liner next the threadsbeing protected, the projection means on the body of the protectorpreferably engaging between threads so that when the protector is turnedthe projection means will cause it to be tightened to the pipe end.Desirably the protector body has a portion adapted to engage theendsurface of the pipe when the protector has been applied so as tocover the threads. If the protector body is made so that when the lineris assembled with it by relative axial movement the opening in the bodyadjacent the tongue is opposite a portion of the slot in the liner theopening in the body is covered when the protector is screwed into placeon the pipe end since the body of the protector initially turns througha small angle relatively to the liner until the projection engages anend of the cross portion of the slot in the liner. The relative turninginsures covering by the liner of the opening in the body of theprotector. Thereafter the body and liner turn together. The liner ispreferably of such size that the ends of the threads engage the linerand embed themselves in it to some extent. Thus the threads may form amore or less shallow thread-shaped groove in the surface of the linernext the pipe.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of certain present preferredembodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferredembodiments of the invention, in which a Figure 1 is a view of anexternally threaded pipe end partially in axial cross-section andpartially in elevation showing a thread protector applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view of the thread protector shown inFigure 1 with thepipe removed and looking into the protector from the right;

Figure 3 is a perspective view with a portion cut away of the body ofthe thread protector shown in Figures land 2;. a

Figure 4 is a perspective view with a portion cut away of the threadprotector liner;

Figure 5 is a view of an internally threaded pipe end partially in axialcross-section and partially in elevation showing a thread protectorapplied thereto;

Figure 6 is a view of the thread protector shown in Figure 5 removedfrom the pipe and viewing the protector from the right; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view with a portion cut away of the body ofthe thread protector shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 14, there is shown a pipe end2 having external threads 3. Applied to the pipe end is a threadprotector designated generally by reference numeral 4 and comprising abody 5 and a liner 6. The body 5 is made of relatively durable material,as, for example, sheet metal or plastic. The liner 6 is made ofrelatively deformable material, as, for example, cardboard, fiber, cork,etc. The body 5 comprises a cylindrical portion 1 and an end portion 8at one end thereof integral with the portion 1 and turned inwardly so asto be adapted to abut the end of the pipe when the protector is applied.

In the cylindrical portion 1 thereof the body 5 of the protector 4 hasopposed struck up tongues or ears 9 extending radially inwardly of thebody, the line of junction of each tongue 9 with the portion 1 of thebody being circumferential of the body. The diameter of the body and thelength of the tongues 9 are preferably such that when the body isapplied to an externally threaded pipe end the extremities of thetongues engage between threads of the pipe as shown in Figure l.

The liner 6 (see Fig. 4) is of generally cylindrical shape and isprovided with two opposed slots l0, each having a main portion II and across portion l2 at the inner end of the main portion H. The width ofthe main portion ll of each slot ll] is sufficient to receive thecircumferential dimension of one of the tongues 9 and the width of thecross portion l2 of each slot I is sufficient to receive the axialdimension of one of the tongues 9.

The protector body and liner 6 are assembled by introducing the linerinto the body, the external diameter of the liner being just' enoughsmaller than the internal diameter of the body to permit the liner to beslid into the body. The liner is moved axially into the body from theopen end of the body and with the end of the liner intersected by theslots [0 thereof entering the body first. The liner is advanced withinthe body until the tongues 9 enter the portions l l of the slots. Whenthe leading end of the liner engages the end portion 8 of the body 5 thetongues 9 will have left the inner ends of the portions l l of the slotsand hence will lie within the portions I2 thereof. At that moment theopenings I3 in the body formed when the tongues 9 are struck up registerwith parts of the slot portions H. However, upon slight relative turningin either direction between the protector body 5 and the liner 6 eachtongue passes to an end of the corresponding slot portion l2 and theopenings 13 pass out of register with the slot portions II and arecovered by the liner.

The protector 4 is applied to the pipe by introducing it over thethreaded end of the pipe and turning it into place as one would apply anut to a bolt. When the tongues 9 engage between threads of the pipethey serve to positively ad- 4 vance the protector onto the pipe end asthe protector is turned. The ends of the pipe threads preferably embedthemselves in the material of the liner 6, which is deformable toreceive them. Thus the thread ends may form a more or less shallowfemale thread in the protector liner.

If the body and liner of the protector have not been relatively turnedprior to screwing the same onto the pipe end the body will initiallyturn through a small angle relatively to the liner until the tongues 9reach the forward ends of the respective slot portions I2, after whichturning of the body 5 will cause the liner 6 to turn with it by reasonof engagement of the tongues 9 with the ends of the slot portions [2.

While it is desirable that the extremities of the tongues 9 engagebetween threads of the pipe this is not in all cases essential asturning on of the protector may be accomplished through the engagementbetween the'jends of the pipe threads and the liner of the protector.

Figures 5, 6 and "I show a protector for an internally threaded pipe endwhich is exactly analogous to the protector 4 except that it is appliedwithin the pipe end like a plug instead of over the pipe end like a capas in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and '7, there is shown a pipe end 22having internal threads 23. Applied to the pipe end is a threadprotector designated generally by reference numeral 24 and comprising abody 25 and a liner 2B. The body 25 is made of relatively durablematerial, as, for example, sheet metal or plastic. The liner 25 is madeof relatively deformable material, as, for example, cardboard, fiber,cork, etc. The body 25 comprises a cylindrical portion 21 and an endportion 28 at one end thereof integral with the portion 27 and turnedoutwardly so as to be adapted to abut the end of the pipe when theprotector is applied.

In the cylindrical portion 21 thereof the body 25 of the protector 24has opposed struck up tongues or ears 29 extending radially outwardly ofthe body, the line of junction of each tongue 29 with the portion 21 ofthe body being circumferential of the body. The diameter of the body andthe length of the tongues 29 are preferably such that when the body isapplied to an internally threaded pipe end the extremities of thetongues engage between threads of the pipe as shown in Figure 5.

The liner 26 is of generally cylindrical shape and is provided with twoopposed slots 30, each having a main portion 3| and a cross portion 32at the inner end of the main portion 3|, the liner being virtuallyidentical with the liner 9 shown in Figure 4. The width of the mainportion 3! of each slot 39 is sufficient to receive the circumferentialdimension of one of the tongues 29 and the width of the cross portion 32of each slot 30 is sufficient to receive the axial dimension of one ofthe tongues 29.

The protector body 25 and liner 2%; are assembled in the same manner asabove described with respect to the body 5 and liner 6 of the protector1 except that the liner 26 is applied over the body 25 instead of withinit. Likewise the protector 24 is applied to the pipe end in the samemanner as above described with respect to the protector 4 except that itis applied internally of the pipe end instead of externally.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodimentsof the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving projection means adapted to engage between threads of a pipe towhich the protector is applied and a liner of relatively deformablematerial lying against the body adapted to be interposed between thebody and the pipe and through which the projection means extend.

2. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving tongue means struck up from the material thereof and adapted toengage between threads of a pipe to which the protector is applied and aliner of relatively deformable material lying against the body adaptedto be interposed between the body and the pipe, the liner having anopening or openings through which the tongue means extend.

3. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving a plurality of projections adapted to engage between threads of apipe to which the protector is applied, the projections being spacedapart circumferentially, and a liner of relatively deformable materiallying against the body adapted to be interposed between the body and thepipe and through which the projections extend.

4. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving tongue means struck up from the material thereof and adapted toengage between threads of a pipe to which the protector is applied and aliner of relatively deformable material lying against the body adaptedto be interposed between the body and the pipe and through which thetongue means extend, the liner when the thread protector is applied tothe pipe covering the opening or openings in the body formed in strikingup of the tongue means.

5. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving projection means adapted to engage between threads of a pipe towhich the protector is applied and a liner of relatively deformablematerial lying against the body adapted to be interposed between thebody and the pipe, the liner having a slot or slots intersecting theedge thereof receiving the projection means upon assembly of the bodyand liner.

6. A thread protector for an externally threaded pipe end comprising abody of relatively durable material adapted for application over saidpipe end and having inward projection means and a liner of relativelydeformable material disposed within the body, the liner having a slot orslots intersecting the edge thereof receiving the projection means uponassembly of the body and liner.

7. A thread protector for an internally threaded pipe end comprising abody of relatively durable material adapted for application within saidpipe end and having outward projection means and a 1 liner of relativelydeformable material disposed about the body, the liner having a slot orslots intersecting the edge thereof receiving the projection means uponassembly of the body and liner.

8. A thread protector comprising a,body of relatively durable materialhaving projection means extending therefrom and a liner of relativelydeformable material lying against the body adapted to be interposedbetween the body and a pipe end to which the protector is applied, theliner being assemblable with the body at the face of the body at whichthe projection means are disposed and having a slot or slotsintersecting the edge of the liner receiving the pro jection means uponassembly of the body and liner.

9. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving a projection extending therefrom and a liner of relativelydeformable material lying against the body adapted to be interposedbetween the body and a pipe end to which the protector is applied, theliner being assemblable with the body at the face of the body at whichthe projection is disposed and having a slot a portion of whichintersects the edge of the liner and another portion of which intersectsthe first mentioned portion at a point removed from the edge of theliner receiving the projection upon assembly of the body and liner.

10. A thread protector comprising a body of relatively durable materialhaving thereon opposed projections and a liner of relatively deformablematerial lying against the body adapted to be interposed between thebody and a pipe end to which the protector is applied, the liner beingassemblable with the body at the face of the body at which theprojections are disposed and having opposed T-shaped slots the mainportion of each of which intersects the edge of the liner and the crossportion of each of which intersects the main portion of thecorresponding slot at its inner end receiving the respective projectionsupon assembly of the body and liner.

11. A thread protector for a threaded pipe end comprising a body ofrelatively durable material adapted for application to said pipe end andhaving a projection having relatively small axial dimension andrelatively great circumferential dimension and a liner of relativelydeformable material lying against the body adapted to be interposedbetween the body and a pipe end to which the protector is applied, theliner being assemblable with body at the face of the body at which theprojection is disposed and having a generally T-shaped slot the trunkportion of which intersects the edge of the liner and is of a widthsuflicient to receive the circumferential dimension of the projectionand the cross portion of which intersects the trunk portion at its innerend and is of a width sufficient to receive the axial dimension of theprojection.

GEORGE P. ELMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,880 Shrum June 13, 19111,642,330 Brownstein Sept. 13, 1927 1,762,248 Shrum June 10, 19301,771,522 Berge July 29, 1930 1,786,491 Hunter Dec. 30, 1930 Certificateof Correction Patent N 0. 2,543,960 March 6, 1951 GEORGE P. ELMER It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, line 48, after the Word with insert the; line 70, list ofreferences cited, add the following:

1,970,709 Rose Aug. 21,1934

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOifice.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of May, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

